Material distributor



June 6, 1933. E. MASTERS MATERIAL DISTRIBUTOR Filed Feb. 16

6720672 E k/whiz. Mas 6T5,

a claims v i a p 45 p Oneembodiment of the present invention is shown for"illustrative purposes inthe accom-f panying drawingfinwhichz i w Fig. 1 is a side elevat'onalview of auma j terial distrib Patented JuneG, 1933 EDWIN L. Mamas, or onroeeo, ILLINOIS Applicatidnfiled February16; 1931. Serial no. 516,023., s

This invention relates to material distributors or spreaders, and particularly to a device of the character described which is suitconstructed for spreading or distribut- 5 ing various materials such asfertilizen-sand,

topsoil, grass seeds and the like. i it g The structure of the present invent on is 1 particularlyfadapted for spreading or distributing various materials, such as fertilizers orsoils which are in finely divided powdered or granulated form,and also for sewingseeds of variouskinds. i i a 1 One ob]ect of thepresent lnventlon 1s to provide a distributor which "is light, durable it and capablefof being operated,- preferably, by hand for the distribution of materials such as powdered fertilizer andseeds of various kinds on lawns; golf courses, parks and the like, it i i Another] object of the invention is to provideadevice by which substantially even or uniform distribution of the material may be obtained. a 7 i a Anotherobject of the invention is to provide means for shielding the material to be distributed from the broadcasting effect of i' currents, andto insure ,a substantial uniform deposit of the materialion the ground.

a 1 "A other objectof the invention istoprovide meansfor breaking up any lumps or oversize pieces ofmaterial which may form,

orwhichrlnay have formed by reasonof un-y favorable atmospheric conditions; thereby I insuring efficient, operation of the device.

y A further object of the invention isto pro vide meansfor controlling the quantityof the respectivematerials to be deposited or spread a over an area of predetermined dimensions.

it A still'further object of the invention is to i "improve devices of the character described r in sundry details hereinafter referedtoand particularly pointed t o ut in the appended a 5 present invention 2-2 of i Fig. 3;

quantity of materialto bedistributed; and

Fig; 2;is a; longitudinal sectionalelevation taken substantially as indicated by the'line i Fig13 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially asindicated by the line\33 Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of Fig.3 showing the vanous parts of the controlmechanism 011a larger scale. i i

' As shown in the illustrative embodiment, the present'invention comprises a container or hopper, indicated asa whole by the nunieral 10, suitably constructed for receiving the material to be distributed; such, for example, as seeds ofvariouskinds;fertilizer preferablyin powdered or granular Yform, sand top soil, oroth'er materials as may be found desirable, the saidcontainer, in the present instance, having end iwallsll of any suitable material, and side Walls 12, formed preferably of sheet material and provided with inclined material-supporting portions 13 arranged inamanner toform ahopper of substantially V-shaped cross sectionfthe extremebottom portion ltof the container, 0 between theinclined portions 13, being of substantially arcuateform "and provided, in thefpresent instance with a plurality of apertures 15 spacedlongitudinally of the container, through wh'ichthematerial is-distends longitudinally thereof, and rotatable therein, the opposite ends of theshaft being adapted to extend beyond the ends of the ,contaijner and having groundwheels fl and s 18 mounted thereomthewheel 18 in the presl s entfiriangementbeing rigidly secured to the shaft .-16;-by. means of a pin 19forrotating I the shaft 16 withlthewheel 18, while the wheel 1117 isnpermitted Ito rotate freely: upon 1 theopposite end of the shaft bei-ng 'held l thereon by a washer 20 and pin 21 as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

F or breaking up lumps or oversize pieces of material which may form owing to dampness or the like, and for insuring the discharge of material from the container, an agitator 21 is suitably secured, in the present instance, to the supporting shaft 16 between the end walls 11 of the container. The agitator of the illustrative embodiment comprises a plurality of discs 23'having -apertures formed therein adjacent their central portions for receiving the supporting shaft 16, the discs 23 being secured by soldering, or by other suitable means, to pins 2% extending through and transversely of the shaft 16' for rotating the discs with the shaft.

Mounted in aimularly spaced apertures formed in the discs 23 are a plurality of relatively thin bars or rods 25 extending longitudinally of, and substantially parallel to the shaft 16, and to each other in a manner to engage the material within the container as the shaft 16 is rotated by reason of its connection with the ground wheel 18, thus providing means for breaking up over,- size pieces of material as they work down toward the bottom of the container and insuring the eflicient discharge of the material from the container.

It will be observed that the diametrical distance between oppositely positioned rods 25 of the agitator is materially less than the diameter of the ground wheels 17 and 18, and that by reason of such an arrangement, the relatively small diameter of the rods 25, and the leverage obtained, the resistance of the material to the rotation of the agitator is materially reduced, thereby contributing to the ease with which the distributor may be operated or moved over the ground. when in operation.

For controlling the from the container by varying the effective area of the apertures 15, a rocker arm 26 shown in the present instance as of bail-like construction is pivotallymounted on the container,and as'shown in the present instance, is mounted on the supporting shaft 16 in a manner to rock thereon, and tothe lower end of the, rocker arm or bail-like member 26 is connected an angle iron extending longitudinally of the container below the bottom portion thereof. Suitably mounted on the angle iron 27 is a closure member 28 which is formed transversely or. in cross section, substantially concentric with the longitudi nal center line of the supporting shaft 16 in a manner to conform to, and lie closelyad' jacent the outer areuate surface of the bottom portion ll' of the-container, and in a manner, when suitably adj usted,'to cover the apertures 15, therf by preventing discharge of material from the eontainerfi" Such" an arrangement may be found desirable in transdischarge of material nature vary considerably in granular size,

it has been found desirable to vary the size or effective area of the openings or apertures 15 through which the material is discharged, and for this purpose a rod 29 is secured, adjacent one of its end portions, to the rocker arm 26 and its opposite end is adapted to extend through a bracket 30 mounted on a handle 31 by which the distributor may be operated, the extreme outer end of the rod 29 being provided with an upturned portion '32 conveniently positioned adjacent the cross bar of the handle for convenientmanipulation by the operator.

For predetermining the quantity of any ho'ok35 may be adjustably secured to the rod 29 accord ng to the discharge opening desired for the particular material to be disdevice, shown in the present instance as a latch or tribut-ed, then by positioning the hook 35 over the upper edge of the bracket 30, the

closure member 28' will be correspondingly positioned with respect to the apertures 15. For example, if the cotter pin 34 is positioned in the aperture a and the hook member 35 positioned forwardly of the rod 29 accordingly, such an arrangement will permit the closure member 28'to bepositioned with respect to the apertures 15 in a manner to provide an opening sufficient to deposit approximately one-half pound of pure grass seed per approximately two hundred to three hundred squarefeet of ground surface, while, if the cotter pin 34 is positioned in aperture 6, and the hook 35 engaged with the bracket 30, the rod 29 is positioned further forward and the closure member 28 further rearwardly thereby increasing the discharge area of the apertures and permitting an increased discharge 'of the material from the container. For example, with the parts in the position just described, approximately two pounds of powdered commercial fertilizer may be deposited per hundred square feet or one pound of mixed grass seed may be deposited over a like area. v It will be observed from the foregoing description that various material maybe deposited in various predetermined quantities .over a predetermined area-simply by securingthe hook 35 at. variouspositions of adj-ustment along the rod 29 thereby varying the effective area of the dischargeopenings formed' in the bottom of the container. N

Obviouslyasingle elongated aperture vor slot might be formed in the'bottom portion lit} pletely covering the apertures 15 to prevent used to advantage in variouslydifferent coml4 of -thecontainer instead of the plurality of apertures shown, and that ,by suchian ar rangement very. efficient results may be obtained, the present structure, including the apertures 15, being merely lllustratlve and jdiselosing a preferred construction in the discharge of material) from the container when deslred.

Suitably secured to the container 10, preferably adjacent the forward, side thereofis aninclined"plate 37 extending downwardly between the wheels and 18 and below the lowerportion of the container to a point adljacent the ground level, for shielding the material distributed from the broadcasting effect of thewind currents, thereby insur- I the ing a substantially uniform distribution of material on the ground, the plate 37 being provided with a plurality of apertures 218 through which some of the material de-, posited may pass, while other portions of the [material may be direi'zted along the rear face of the plate and deposited from the lower edge thereof. y

In addition to permitting the passage of material through the plate 37, the apertures 38 also-permit'the passage of air currents therethrough in a manner to break up the currents in the event thatthey are directed against the upper rear or receiving side of the plate 37, therebypreventing the material from being blown laterally and deposit- 2 edin unequal quantities overthe ground.

scription that the present invention provides If desired, a stand or rest 39 may be provided. for maintaining the distributor in upright position when left unattended.

It will be observed fromthe foregoing dea novel and most efficient material: distributor capable of distributing or spreading various kinds of material, and wherein the quantity of material deposited may, be readily and conveniently controlled by the op erator. y i V Obviously the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and ar rangement shown anddescribed, as the same maybe variously'modified." Moreover, all the features of the present invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be binations and sub-combinations.

. Having thus described my invention, what claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent A material distributor comprising a container having a bottom portion, supporting means including a shaft extending longitudinally of and rotatably-mounted in said container, said bottom portion being formed 7 substantially concentriowith the longitudinal centerofsaid shaft andhavingr a plurality ofapertures formed therein, an agitator mounted on said shaft in a manner to y rotate therewith and comprising a plurality of substantially parallel"substantially round thin redsannularly spaced; around the shaft,

a rocker armpivotally mounted on said shaft, a closure member HlOUDtGCluOIl said arm and positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the container in amanner to cover the apertures formed therein, said member being formed, substantially concentric With the longitudinal center of said shaft, means operatively related to. said rocker arm for respect to said apertures, said means com: prising a bracket mounted in fixed POSltlOIl with respect to said container, a rod connected to said rocker arm and operatively related to said bracketin a manner to be guided thereby, securing means adjustably mounted 011 said'rod and engageable with "said bracket for securing said member in carious positionsofadjustment with respect atively related to said shaft for rotating said 3 agitator.

2-. A materialdistributor comprising a con: tamer provided with a bottom portion hav-' a supporting shaft rotatably mounted in said container, an agitator mounted on said shaft in a manner to rotate therewith, a closure member movably mounted on said container adjacent said bottom portion, means for vary ing the position of said member with respect to said apertures, said means comprising a bracketmounted infixed position'with respect to said container, a rod operatively related to said member and to said bracket in a manner tcbe guided thereby, securing means mounted onsaidrod and engageable varyingtl'ie position of said member with to; said apertures, and a ground wheel opering a plurality of apertures formed therein,

with said bracketffor positioningsaid memher in a manner. to close said apertures, a 1 second securing means adjustablymounted on said rod and engageable with said bracket for securing said member in various posi tions of adjustment with respect to said apertures, and ground wheels operatively relatedf u i to said shaft for rotating said agitator. 3. Amaterial distributor comprisinga container having a bottom portion, a handle therefor, supporting means including a shaft extending longitudinally of and rotatably mounted in said container, said bottom. portion being formed substantially concentric with the longitudinal center of said shaftand having a plurality of apertures formed therein, an agitator mounted on said shaft in a manner to rotate therewith and comprising a plurality of substantiallyparallel relatively thin rods annularly spaced around the shaft, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the said shaft, a closure member mounted on said arm and positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the container in a manner to cover the, apertures formed therein, said member. being formed substantially concentric with the longitudinal center of said shaft, means for varying the positionof said member with respect to said apertures, said means comprising a bracket having an aperture formed therein mounted on said handle, a rod connected to said rocker arm and extending through the aperture formed in said bracket, a hook rigidly secured to said rod at one side of said bracket and engageable with the bracket for securing said closure member in position to close the apertures formed in said bottom portion, a second hook adjustably mounted on said rod at the opposite side of said bracket and engageable with the bracket for securing said closuremember in Various positions of adjustment with respect to the apertures formed in said bottom portion for varying the effective area thereof, ground wheels operatively related to said shaft for rotating said agitator, and a perforated inclined apron extending downwardly from the bottom portion; of said container between said ground wheels.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of February A. 1)., 1931.

EDlVIN L. MASTERS. 

